The panel also weighed into the tertiary education fee debate, with Wong taking a swipe at Pyne and the Abbott Government's university system, saying it "doesn't have accessibility and equity at its core".

Schmidt chimed in: "We need to change (uni fees). But we need a framework we can agree on."

When the chatter turned to mental illness, Wax, who has spoken publicly about her battle with depression, said there was still a stigma around it.

"Any other disease you can see but 2015 everyone thinks (depressions) an act of imagination".

On the topic of bullying, Wax said a lot of it came down to education. "Get teachers educated to deal with (bullying)," she said.

When Jeremy Clarkson's sacking from British TV show Top Gear was raised in a question from the audience, Wax — who has had a long career in TV and stand-up comedy — described fame and celebrity as an "illness".

"It comes down to there is an illness called fame," Wax said on Q&A.

"I knew Jeremy Clarkson when he was just a nice guy, if you infantilise people ... you are padded from reality.

"I'm not backing him up but that's in the brew. Don't go into television, don't try out for X Factor, that will happen to you."